2 arrested in largest counterfeit goods seizure in US history, retailing at more than $1 billion

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:23:20 GMT

2 arrested in largest counterfeit goods seizure in US history, retailing at more than $1 billion (CNN) — Two people have been arrested in the largest seizure of counterfeit goods in US history, including knock-off designer goods with an estimated retail value of more than a billion dollars, officials in New York said.Adama Sow, 38, and Abdulai Jalloh, 48, were arrested Wednesday morning and charged with trafficking in counterfeit goods, according to indictments and a news release from the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.At a bond hearing Wednesday, a judge set Sow’s bond at $1 million and Jalloh’s bond at $500,000, court records show.Two arrested in largest counterfeit goods seizure in Manhattan, retailing at more than $1 billions dollars. Credit: U.S. Attorney’s OfficeCNN reached out to attorneys for both Sow and Jalloh but did not immediately hear back.Sow and Jalloh ran the trafficking operation out of a Manhattan storage facility from January to October, the news release from the attorney’s office said. Counterfeit goods ...

Draymond Green suspended for five games for putting Rudy Gobert in headlock

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:23:20 GMT

Draymond Green suspended for five games for putting Rudy Gobert in headlock (CNN) — Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green has been suspended for five games for “forcibly grabbing” Ruby Gobert around the neck during Tuesday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the NBA announced.The altercation broke out inside the opening two minutes of the match when Warriors guard Klay Thompson and Minnesota forward Jaden McDaniels got into a scuffle, yanking on each other’s jerseys and swinging each other around as the teams made their way up the floor.Several players from both sides rushed over to get involved, before Green barged in and put Gobert in a headlock.Green, McDaniels and Thompson were all ejected from the game.The NBA said Green grabbed Gobert around the neck in an “unsportsmanlike and dangerous manner.”“The length of the suspension is based in part on Green’s history of unsportsmanlike acts,” the NBA said in a statement.This is Green’s fifth suspension in his career. Prior to this week’s punishment, Green was suspended for one game w...

Demonstrators calling for Gaza cease-fire block BU bridge

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:23:20 GMT

Demonstrators calling for Gaza cease-fire block BU  bridge Demonstrators seeking a cease-fire in Gaza blocked traffic on the Boston University bridge during rush hour Thursday, slowing traffic to a trickle.The group chanted “Cease-fire now!” during the protest amid an Israeli ground offensive in Gaza that followed Hamas-led attacks in Israel on Oct. 7. They also held signs that said, “Let Gaza Live.” The bridge connects Boston and Cambridge.Activists were demanding that Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts support an immediate cease-fire and use her influence to stop the Israeli government’s military action.Boston Police were at the scene of the protest, which was organized by IfNotNow, which said it represented members of Jewish community in Boston.The protest came as Israeli forces dropped leaflets warning Palestinians to flee parts of southern Gaza, residents said Thursday, signaling a possible expansion of their offensive.

Ethics panel says it found ‘overwhelming evidence’ of lawbreaking by Republican Rep. George Santos

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:23:20 GMT

Ethics panel says it found ‘overwhelming evidence’ of lawbreaking by Republican Rep. George Santos By KEVIN FREKING (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics committee in a scathing report Thursday said it has amassed “overwhelming evidence” of lawbreaking by Rep. George Santos of New York that has been sent to the Justice Department, concluding flatly that the Republican “cannot be trusted” after a monthslong investigation into his conduct.The panel said that Santos knowingly caused his campaign committee to file false or incomplete reports with the Federal Election Commission; used campaign funds for personal purposes; and engaged in violations of the Ethics in Government Act as it relates to financial disclosure statements filed with the House.Santos has maintained his innocence and has refused to resign despite calls from many of his colleagues to do so.The ethics panel’s report also detailed Santos’ lack of cooperation with its investigation and how he “evaded” straightforward requests for information.The infor...

Homeowner shoots suspected burglar in North County

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:23:20 GMT

Homeowner shoots suspected burglar in North County VISTA, Calif. -- A homeowner in North County shot a burglar shortly before 5 a.m. Thursday morning, authorities confirmed to FOX 5.The San Diego County Sheriff's Department said the homicide unit was called to the scene at a residence located on 1700 Block of York Drive in Vista. Pilot killed in small plane crash near Torrey Pines Details surrounding the incident are limited at this time.This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

San Diego Starbucks workers to join nationwide strike on 'Red Cup Day'

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:23:20 GMT

San Diego Starbucks workers to join nationwide strike on 'Red Cup Day' SAN DIEGO -- Starbucks’ annual "Red Cup Day" may be accompanied with long wait times Thursday, instead of holiday cheer.Thousands of workers, including some in San Diego, are planning to strike while demanding the coffee giant comes to the bargaining table in regards to staffing and scheduling concerns. The Workers United union proclaimed the day as the "Red Cup Rebellion," choosing the date because it's one of Starbucks' busiest days of the year. Annually, those who order a holiday drink of this day receive a reusable cup. Homeowner shoots suspected burglar in North County As part of the strike, workers are demanding that Starbucks turn off mobile ordering on future promotion days. Workers have said promotion days "add another layer of stress" due to claims of understaffing. “Business at this location (Hillcrest) has continued to grow, yet we still have partners losing hours and have to deal with understaffed shifts," said Saïx Campbell, a shift supervisor at the Starbucks locate...

Online resources can help bridge gap for young investors seeking financial advice

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:23:20 GMT

Online resources can help bridge gap for young investors seeking financial advice TORONTO — While some financial advisers might be unwilling to take on younger clients with small accounts, experts say that shouldn’t deter young investors from beginning their financial journey and that online resources can be a good place to start learning.Karlee Vukets, a certified financial planner who works with clients aged 25 to 40, says many financial advisers have minimum account requirements which many younger investors don’t meet.“Typically, you may not be able to find an investment adviser who manages a portfolio of a small size,” said Vukets, who runs Toronto-based financial planning firm Karlee Vukets & Co. Many firms have a minimum threshold of at least $250,000 in assets, she said.That has some young investors turning to online resources such as AI chatbots, social media influencers and investment apps such as Wealthsimple to help manage their modest portfolios.These online resources are helping make financial education more accessible and...

Demand for seafood is soaring, but oceans are giving up all they can. Can we farm fish in new ways?

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:23:20 GMT

Demand for seafood is soaring, but oceans are giving up all they can. Can we farm fish in new ways? If it still seems strange to think of fish growing on farms, it shouldn’t.Aquaculture has been the fastest growing food sector in the world for decades, and people now eat more farmed fish than wild fish. The industry has had to grow. Demand for seafood is soaring and will continue to rise. But the oceans are giving up all they can: Production of wild fish has been flat since about 1990. Fish farming and shellfish production usually spew far less greenhouse gas emissions than production of beef and other animal protein, but aquaculture can still cause serious environmental problems. ___EDITORS’ NOTE — This story is part of The Protein Problem, an AP series that examines the question: Can we feed this growing world without starving the planet? To see the full project, visit https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/the-protein-problem/index.html___And as it has grown, the problems with large-scale farming have grown with it. Many are like problems that face massive chicken, pig and c...

Meat made from cells, not livestock, is here. But will it ever replace traditional meat?

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:23:20 GMT

Meat made from cells, not livestock, is here. But will it ever replace traditional meat? A familiar aroma wafted through the Believer Meats test kitchen earlier this year as Research and Development Chef Andres Voloschin flipped sizzling strips of chicken conjured from cells.Scientists, not farmers, produced this chicken. More than 150 startups are chasing an ambitious goal: meat that doesn’t require raising and killing animals that is affordable and tastes and feels like the meat we eat now. They are part of a young industry aiming to use cell biology to reduce the environmental impact of the world’s ever-increasing demand for meat and change global protein production the way electric cars are shaking up the auto industry.“We are addicted to meat as a species. It’s part of our evolution. It’s part of our culture,” said Believer founder Yaakov Nahmias, whose country, Israel, is an industry hub along with California and Singapore. But “we thought about quantity rather than the environment, rather than sustainability.”___EDITORS’ NOTE — This story is part of The Protein P...

Decline in local news outlets is accelerating despite efforts to help

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:23:20 GMT

Decline in local news outlets is accelerating despite efforts to help NEW YORK (AP) — The decline of local news in the United States is speeding up despite attention paid to the issue, to the point where the nation has lost one-third of its newspapers and two-thirds of its newspaper journalists since 2005.An average of 2.5 newspapers closed each week in 2023 compared to two a week the previous year, a reflection of an ever-worsening advertising climate, according to a Northwestern University study issued Thursday. Most are weekly publications, in areas with few or no other sources for news.“My concern is that the acceleration that we’re seeing is only going to worsen,” said Tim Franklin, who heads the local news initiative at Northwestern’s Medill journalism school.At its current pace, the country will hit 3,000 newspapers closed in two decades sometime next year, with just under 6,000 remaining, the report said. At the same time, 43,000 newspaper journalists lost jobs, most of them at daily publications, with the advertising market collap...